Accardo: Rossini 6 Sonate a Quattro: Philips 67 69 024 (2LP box): SPAIN pressing

$

395

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and very rare 2LP box set from Spanish Philips (6769 024, Spanish pressing, red/white labels, stereo insert included) preserves one of the greatest chamber music albums every made, that of violinist Salvatore Accardo and colleagues’ in stunning and sought-after account of Rossini’s “Sei Sonate a quattro” (6 String Sonatas), here performed in their original version for two violins, cello, and bass – truly magnificent.

PLEASE NOTE:

This is the original release, and not the later Japanese Philips re-issue, but it is on Spanish Philips (vs. the more common Dutch Philips). The quality is exactly the same – I have sold the Dutch pressing on 3 occasions. The only differences I can see are as follows:

> The rear side of the box does not show other Accardo albums on Philips.

> Instead of the 4-page booklet, there is a single page full-size insert, again with liner notes by Rossini scholar Philip Gossett.

> The texts on the labels, and in the insert, and on the rear of the box are in Spanish

Otherwise, the box and LPs have the same look, feel and weight as the Dutch Philips version.

Accardo was joined for this memorable recording by violinist Sylvie Gazeau, cellist Alain Meunier, and double-bassist Franco Petracchi, in sessions held in October 1978.

Filling out the set are three Rossini rarities:

Duetto per violoncello e contrabasso

> with Alain Meunier, cello and Franco Petracchi, contrabasso

“Un Mot à Paganini”

> with Salvatore Accardo, violin and Bruno Canino, piano

“Une larme” pour basse

> with Franco Petracchi, contrabass and Bruno Canino, piano

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Of the original Philips release, that on offer here, the eminent critic Lionel Salter wrote in his review for the April 1981 issue of The Gramophone:

“Every time the Rossini string Sonatas show up, reviewers are bowled over by their breezy high spirits, freshness of invention and humour; and I happily succumb once again, especially to this recording, which is a sheer delight. In reviewing the version by the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields (Argo ZK26-7, 12/77), TH very justly praised the whole-hearted brio and spectacular ensemble in whirling passage-work which Neville Marriner secured from his players; but when performed as a solo quartet of two violins, cello and bass, as here, the effect is inevitably still cleaner and crisper and the texture pellucid. This is how they were intended, for Rossini amusingly describes the "dreadful" first performance at the home of his patron Triossi (in Conventello, where he wrote his first orchestral overture), with himself "to tell the truth, the least appalling" playing second violin. It is hard to believe, but almost certainly true, that he was only 12 at the time— one forgets that he was to be already famous at 21: but his claim that all six sonatas were composed and copied in three days, and that he had not at that time had any lessons in accompagnamento (thorough-bass) strains credulity to the limit, for in harmony, Construction and, particularly, instrumentation they are completely assured.

“Each work is cast in three movements—the first in sonata form, the second a slow cantabile, and the finale usually a Rondo, though No. 6 ends with a raging Tempesta and No. 3 with a sparkling set of variations on a theme which, eight years later, he used again in La scala di seta. But it is the string writing that leaves one gaping at this adolescent's precocity. Where had he learned the kind of pyrotechnics he gave his violins (brilliant rapid passages, sometimes ascending to dizzy heights, as in No. 5, or rising scales in broken octaves in No. 4), or special effects such as the weird ponti'cello in the finale of No. 5, or the extraordinary enterprise demanded from his bass player? With string parts like these, it is hardly surprising if the original group of amateurs sounded dreadful.

“In the hands of the splendid team assembled here, however, the effect is enormously exhilarating. As well as virtuosity from all, there is an uncommon purity of intonation and the kind of rhythmic and tonal nuance that makes it clear that sensitivity, not exhibitionism, is the ruling factor, though the players respond with evident zest to Rossini's flights of ebullience. The internal balance too is judged to a nicety: when the first and second violins repeat each other's phrases they are differentiated only by their positioning and individual timbre. Very strongly recommended. If 1 allowed myselfjust one cavil it would be that Accardo snatches at the turns in the finale of No. 2.

“The last side is given over to some rarities. The Duetto for cello and bass (written for a talented English amateur and the great Dragonetti, but published for the first time only in 1969) is a three-movement work, ending in a cheerful polacca, that treats the instruments on absolutely equal terms, expecting the bass to rush about and to sing melodies as freely as its partner. It is superbly played here, with first-class unanimity and the utmost finesse. Rossini knew Paganini well, and the violin piece which bears his name is full of the elaborate technical demands—doublestops, rapid arco-pizzicato alterations, etc.— which might be expected in the circumstances. Over Une larme I am somewhat puzzled. It is a set of loose variations for cello, but what we have here is the theme alone, played on the bass— though with such beauty of tone and expressive quality as to be utterly disarming.”

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And of the Ultra HD CD re-issue by First Impression Music (LIM UHD 049), the critic John J. Puccio wrote on his blog classicalcandor:

“Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) wrote his six Sonatas for two violins, cello and double-bass in 1804, and scholars only discovered them in the Library of Congress after World War II. Most often, we hear them in their transcriptions for small string orchestra, but it's especially nice to hear them as the original scores arrange them, for string quartet. Almost as remarkable as the young prodigy composing these works at so early an age is that after Rossini wrote thirty-eight operas by the age of thirty-eight, he pretty much retired, writing only a few occasional pieces of music during the next thirty-odd years. Apparently, he spent much of his time in retirement as a gourmet, portraits of his girth in later years attesting to the fact.

In any case, his youthful Sonatas all follow the same basic pattern: They start with relatively long opening Allegros, followed by brief central slow movements, and concluding with moderately quick-paced finales of modest duration. My favorite among them, for what it's worth, is No. 5 because it sums up everything good about the music; it's both delicately enchanting and playfully witty by turns.

The performances by Salvatore Accardo, first violin, Sylvie Gazeau, second violin, Alain Meunier, cello, and Franco Petracchi, double bass is as sweet, melodious, refined, exacting, and flexible as a listener will find anywhere. This is virtuosic playing that is completely at the service of the music: graceful, lilting, and lyrical, yet jaunty and lively when necessary. I have heard the Sonatas played by a number of different performers and groups over the years, but none surpass Accardo and his colleagues.”

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Included is a full-size, 1-page insert with liner notes in Spanish only.

Incidentally, the cover art on the front of the box reproduces “La Rotonda di Palmieri” by Giovanni Fattori (1825-1908), held at the Galleria d’Arte Moderne, Firenze.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the box is VERY GOOD. There is a former catalog sticker to the upper-left front panel. There is also some corner and edge wear, as well as some spots of discoloration and scuffing. However, there are no bends, corner breaks, seam splits, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the box remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, this is a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the full-size, 1-page insert is EX. The text is in Spanish only.

The 2 LPs are conservatively graded as near-MINT. Although the surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) these are fine copies and playback is superb There are no tics, no warps, etc. I cannot say the surfaces are CD silent or MINT, but they are overall outstanding. If you must have flawless surfaces, then please do not buy this set – these rate as NM collector's copies.

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